Ganesh Chaturthi: A Popular Deity: On the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad, the great festival of Ganesh or Ganpati is celebrated. This festival marked the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Ganpati is one of the most popular deities. He is worshipped by both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Even Buddhists and Jains have respect for Ganpati. He is considered to be an avatar of both Shiva and Vishnu. Ganpati is the god of learning. He is addressed as the "Remover of Obstacles" ("Vignaharta").

Gita Jayanti The Gita Jayanti Day or the Birthday of Srimad Bhagavad Gita is celebrated traditionally on the 11th day (Ekadasi) of the bright half (Sukla Paksha) of the month of Margasira (Dec./Jan.). (Coincides with Vaikuntha Ekadasi) This was the day on which the Gospel of our Dharma was revealed to the world through Sanjaya (who was blessed with the Divine Sight to witness the war of Mahabharata by Bhagavan Vyasa)!

The MahabharataGita or song is a well known composition, being the dialogue which the author imagines to have taken place between Krishna and Arjun, just before the Mahabharata war. In the Gita, Krishna says, "Of all the months I am Margashirsha." Hence the importance of this month. The Gita is a small part of the Mahabharata, the greatest epic in the world, composed of more than one, hundred thousand slokas.

Good Friday Fasting and Penance

After a period of rejoicing over the birth of Christ, His followers observe a time of penance and fasting. This period, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Good Friday, is known as Lent.

Guru Nanak Jayanti Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith, was born in the month of Kartik (October/November), and his birthday is known as Guru Nanak Jayanti. He was born in 1469 A.D. at Tolevandi some 30 miles from Lahore. The anniversaries of Sikh Guru's are known as Gurpurabs (festivals) and are celebrated with devotion and dedication.

Hanuman Jayanti On the full-moon day of chaitra exactly at sunrise a festival is arranged in the temple of Hanuman to celebrate his birth. Thirty-three Crore Gods

Hindus believe in ten avatars of Vishnu. They also believe in many other avatars. It is said that there are 33 crore gods and goddesses. In order to destroy Ravan Vishnu took birth as Rama. At the same time Brahmadev commanded all the gods, gandharvas and rishis to take birth (avatar) to help Rama. So all the gods and goddesses and rishimunis decided to take avatar in the form of "vanaras" (monkeys). The apsaras (courtesans of heaven) and the wives of the gandharvas became female monkeys and the rishis and the gods became male monkeys.

Vali was the avatar of Indra (king of heaven), Sugreeva was the avatar of Surya (sun god), Tara was the avatar of Devguru Bruhaspati (Jupiter), and so all the other gods. The avatar of Vayu (wind) was Hanuman, who was of all the monkeys the cleverest and the most powerful. He had the ability of flying with the speed of the eagle.

Spring festival

Holi is the most lively of all Hindu festivals, observed all over North India, which falls on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun (March) according to the Hindu calendar. It heralds the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring and marks the rekindling of the spirit of life. It is a festival of joy when all is forgiven and it is a time to break free from the shackles of convention and let ourselves go.